Deana J. Nicely

Deana Nicely was born January 11th, 1964 in Buffalo, Wyoming to Rita and Robert Bybee. Her father was a logger and the family had settled in Washington for a time until his untimely death in 1970. Following his death Deana and her mother eventually settled in Casper, Wyoming. It was in Casper that she met her lifelong best friend, Robin. The two engaged in countless questionable shenanigans throughout their youth and solidified a bond of friendship that neither time nor distance ever broke. Throughout her younger years she enjoyed spending countless hours with her cousins; playing board games and cards and the like. During her adulthood she excelled at motherhood and devoted many years to raising her children, always ensuring that all of their needs were met. She had a knack for developing meaningful and lasting relationships with others and will be missed by many.

She had a multitude of hobbies that she enjoyed over the years. She always had a love for animals and was never lacking in their presence. She raised exotic birds, had several exotic cats, set up several fresh and salt water fish tanks and each year her backyard and pond were magazine cover worthy. She was a lifelong lover of plants and her house was a beautiful testament to that. Her most recent interest involved hairless creatures and she was the proud mom of two naked cats and a hairless dog. She loved to travel and spent the last few years checking items off her bucket list; the biggest one being to finally put her feet in the sand on a beach in Florida.
In 2002 Deana married her soulmate, Don Nicely and enjoyed nearly 18 years with him until his untimely death in 2020. Don and Deana shared a love of plants and had a beautiful greenhouse in their backyard filled with all of their favorites. They also loved rocks and jewelry and spent countless hours at rock and gem shows across the country.

Deana's favorite role in life was being a grandma. She loved nothing more than to spend time with her grandbabies and spoil them rotten. The love between Deana and her grandchildren was nearly palpable when you walked into the room. She had a special and unique relationship with each one, complete with their own jokes and antics that only they understood. She was always encouraging them in all of their adventures and life stages and secretly plotting with them for the house on the beach that they were going to move to so she could finally get away from the Wyoming winters.

Deana died, peacefully, at her home on October 16th, 2021 surrounded by love following a fierce fight with cancer that spanned many years. Her courage and determination were unquestionable. She leaves behind a lasting legacy of love that will permeate through many generations to come.

Deana is survived by her beloved dog Maya and her two cats Samson and Oliver; her children Kodi (Tangney) Dockham, Mandy (Eric) Blajszczak and Roscoe (Carman) Dockham; her bonus daughter Misti Nicely; several grandchildren; her beloved aunt, Donna Jarvis and many cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Don Nicely; her son, Jesse Dockham; her granddaughter, Tinlee Dockham; both of her parents and an infant brother.

At her request there will be no funeral services and she will reach her final resting place at the Willow Grove Cemetery, in Buffalo, WY at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider a donation to the Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions in her name or to simply perform an act of kindness for another.


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